BERLIN – Police are investigating what they call an altercation between two high school students, as a video shared on Facebook shows a student repeatedly punching another in the cafeteria.

An "altercation involving two Berlin High School students" happened around noon Thursday, according to Berlin police. School administrators are aware of the incident and are working with police to "ensure the matter is thoroughly investigated."

The video, which Michelle Nigbor shared on Facebook, shows a male student in a blue sweatshirt repeatedly punching another male student in the head while he covers his head and face with his arms. The student being punched is seated at a table and eventually falls to the ground, when the other can be seen stomping on his head.

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A video uploaded to Facebook shows one student from Berlin High School repeatedly punching another boy in the head and face Thursday during the school day.
Courtesy of Michelle Nigbor

In a statement to USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, School Board President Catherine Kujawa said the board is taking what happened very seriously.

"Every student should be safe when they are in school. We do not tolerate any form of harassment or altercations, which is why law enforcement was notified and is now investigating this matter," Kujawa said in a written statement from the board.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin was unable to verify the video's authenticity with police or school authorities, and police say they are not releasing any more details.

Nigbor, whose daughter is a student at Berlin High School, said the boy came up behind the other student and started punching him because the boy getting punched had been talking to his girlfriend. The student seen throwing punches was suspended from school for three days, she said.

She said the video was very concerning and thinks it highlights what she called the school's problem with bullying and the administration's lack of action. She said her own daughter has been a victim of bullying at the school and was suspended for one day for defending herself during a fight.

"It seems like there’s no adult supervision," Nigbor said. "I don't know where these teachers are hiding or what they're doing."

Safety is a priority at Berlin schools, but it should go beyond the school, Kujawa said.

"The community at large, parents, friends and neighbors need to encourage students to make positive personal choices; to report inappropriate or unsafe actions; and to be responsible and respectful in the use of social media," she said.

Police said once their investigation is complete, they will refer the case to the Green Lake County District Attorney's Office for any possible criminal charges.

The school board is fully cooperating with the investigation, Kujawa said.

Contact Natalie Brophy at 715-216-5452 or nbrophy@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie or Facebook at facebook.com/bynataliebrophy. Contact Lydia Slattery at 920-426-6710 or lslattery@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LydiaSlattery.